death certificate

noun

: an official document that gives information about a person's death (such as when and how the death happened)

Examples of death certificate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the finding to PEOPLE on Wednesday, July 29, resolving a lingering question raised by an amendment to Rivas’ death certificate earlier this year. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

According to a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly, Shannon’s cause of death was listed as acute cardiopulmonary arrest. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026

The 91-year-old died July 16 of cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly on July 28. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 28 July 2026

The death certificate said she was cremated on July 23 and that no autopsy was conducted. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Legal Definition

death certificate

noun

: a document setting forth information (as age, occupation, and place of birth) relating to a dead person and including a doctor's certification of the cause of death

Note: Death certificates are issued by a particular public official, as a city or town clerk. A death certificate is required to document a person's death for certain purposes, as to file an estate tax return or to probate an estate.